Siphon assembly



Feb. 8, 1944.

w. F. THOMPSON SIPHON ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 26, 1942 .0 a 2 M mmmm g 9 H 5f I w 9 \wmnwmmwxmmmmsmmm 3noentoi:

attorney Patented Feb. 8, 1944 SIPHON ASSEMBLY Willis F. Thompson,Portland, Maine, assignor to The Alden Speares Sons 00., Cambridge,Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 26, 1942,Serial No. 463,431

8 Claims.

The invention relates to a siphon assembly especially adapted fordischarging acids and corrosive liquids from a receptacle, though usefulfor other purposes.

The essential object of the invention is to provide a siphon assembly bywhich acids and corrosive liquids may be safely and efiicientlywithdrawn from a drum or carboy within which the liquid is contained.

Further objects include any or all of the following:

A self-priming siphon, and this without the development of pressurewithin the receptacle within which the liquid to be siphoned iscontained;

One that may be made entirely of material unaffected by the acid orcorrosive siphoned; one rugged and not easily broken; no danger of overpriming; efiicient outlet control.

The invention can best be seen and understood by reference to thedrawing in which Fig. 1 shows the siphon assembly in side elevation; thereceptacle for containing the liquid to be siphoned being shown invertical cross section.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of the siphon assembly.

Fig. 3 is a view mainly in cross vertical section of the outlet controlvalve, the valve being shown open.

Fig. 4 is the same as Fig. 3 excepting that the valve is shown closed.

Referring to the drawing: represents the siphon having an inlet branch2, an outlet branch 3, and a head 4 connecting the two branches, thesiphon having the general form of an inverted U. R is the receptaclecontaining the liquid to be siphoned.

5 represents a casing within which the inlet branch 2 of the siphon isreciprocable. The casing is adaptable to be immersed in the liquid to besiphoned, with downward extension to the bottom of the receptacle, andwith upward extension to a point outside the receptacle, so'that it maybe held manually in place. The casing has at the bottom an inlet opening6 into the chamher 1 thereof. The inlet opening 6 is controlled by aninwardly opening valve 8 suitably encaged. The chamber 1 of the casingis in open communication with the interior or chamber 9 of the siphonthrough the open end H] of its inlet branch. The inlet branch 2 has aslidable fit within the casing, or, more preferably, a packing I I isborne by the lower end of the inlet branch 2 to lie interposed betweenit and the casing; while the top end of the casing is provided with aninside sleeve l2 which acts as a guide for the branch during itsreciprocation. The casingis also provided with openings I3 for escape ofany liquid which may pass by the packing H, and thus safeguard anyescape of liquid from around the top end of the casing. The liquid thusescaping runs back into the receptacle. The bottom of the casing is alsoprovided with a vent ii, of relatively small bore, from out of itschamber I. This vent passes through the wall of the casing with outletthrough the lower end thereof into the receptacle.

Located within the siphon is an air vent it. This vent is preferably asmall tube, of any suitable material which enables it to possess acertain rigidity for maintaining its form, coupled with flexibility, forpermitting of its bending. The tube extends downwardly through the inletbranch 2 of the siphon through the open end [0 of the branch to outletinto the liquid within which the casing is immersed below the level ofthe liquid. The lower end of the air vent, or tube 16, preferably passesthrough the wall to the lower end of the casing and is there affixed tothe casing. The length, or extension, of the tube is such that when thesiphon, or inlet branch 2 of the siphon, is at the bottom of itsdownward stroke during the reciprocation thereof, the top inlet end [8of the tube will then lie contained Within the head 4 of the siphon atthe very top of its chamber 1.

The outlet branch 3 of the siphon is provided at its end with a valve 20for controlling its opening and closure.

v For obtaining valvular control of the outlet of the siphon the outletbranch 3 is split, being provided with an extension 3 The open end 2! ofthis extension is spaced from the open end 22 ing is provided at itslower end with a bushing 26 between it and the branch extension 3 and bywhich it is secured to this extension. At its upper end the casing isprovided with a bushing 21 between it and the main branch 3; Thisbushing is fitted to turn upon the branch so that the casing,'and branchextension affixed to it, may be movable or'be turned with relation tothe main branch. Aflixed to the casing, and extending transverselythrough the lower end portion of the valve chamber 23, is a pin 28 uponwhich the valve 24 normally rests when open, and from which position thevalve is moved to engage the end 22 of the branch, forming a valve seatfor the valve when closed. The valve is closed and maintained in aclosed position either by turning the casing on the branch 3, or it maybe closed by a straight upward longitudinal movement of the casing onthe branch, and-the casing then turned'for maintaining the valve in itsclosed position. For obtaining these operations the end of the branch 3within the valve chamber has afiixed to it a sleeve 29. This sleeve liesin opposing relation to the bushing 2'! on the casing. When the valve 24is-open the normal.

in Fig. 4, the bushing and sleeve then being separated by a space 30.The bushing andsleeve have bevelled edges 3| and32, respectively. Afterthe valve has been moved to a closed position as shown in Fig. 4 it maybe maintained in such position simply by turning the casing 25 in aclockwise direction when the edge 3| onv the sleeve 21, borne by thecasing, will engage the edge 32 on the sleeve, borne by the branch 3,such engagement acting to maintain the valve in its closed position. Onthe other hand, the valve may be closed from its open position as shownin Fig. 3, simplyby turning the casing 25 in a clockwise direction, whenthe edge 3! will engage and ride upon the edge 32, closing the valve,and maintaining it in a closed position. The opening of the valve is byturning the casing 25 in a reverse or anti-clockwise direction.

The general operation of the siphon assembly isas follows:

Assuming the casing with contained inward branch of the siphon has beenplaced within the receptacle containing the liquid to be siphoned,resting on the bottom, and held in place by grasping the top of thecasing. Assuming, also, that the outlet valve 20 is closed. Thereupon,upon reciprocating the siphon, its inlet branch 2' will be moved up anddown within the casing in the manner of a plunger. As the branch movesupwardly, liquid will be drawn from its container to enter the chamber Iof the casing by the partial vacuum, or suction, attending the raisingof the branch 2, or plunger, the valve 8 controlling the inlet 6 to thecasing having then been drawn open,

As the branch, or plunger, is reversely moved downward through thechamber of the casing liquid therein will enter the branch 2 through itsopen end Ill and fill the branch with a depth greater than the depth ofthe liquid within the casing preceding the downward movement of thebranch, or plunger, due to the displacement of the liquid within thecasing by the branch, or plunger. The operation continues as the branch,or plunger, is further reciprocated, and liquid will be drawn to passover through the head 4 into the branch 3 to fill the chamber of thesiphon. During this operation no liquid will flow back from out of thechamber of the siphon into the liquid container during the upward movement stroke of the branch 2, or plunger, when the valve 8 is opened. dueto the suctional draft,

and the fact that the chamber of the siphon and casing is sealed fromthe atmosphere. The liquid entering the chamber of the siphon, however,will tend to cause a slight compression of the air therein, which isvented from out of the chamber of the siphon through the air vent I6into the liquid container from which it escapes by ebulition. In thisconnection it will be observed that, while the top end of the tube willlie contained within the inlet branch 2 of the siphon during the upwardstroke of this branch, in its reciprocation, yet upon the downwardstroke when the liquid is entering the chamber of the siphon for primingit, and especially at the end of its downward stroke, when any airwithin the chamber of the siphon is most highly compressed, the open topend E8 of the air vent, or tube 96, will then lie contained within thehead 4 of the siphon, as shown in Fig. 2, or at the very highest pointof the chamber of the siphon,

thus ensuring that all air can pass out of this chamber. The operationis continued until all of the air has been driven out of the chamber ofthe siphon, and both its branches and head have become filled withliquid, when the siphon becomes primed and ready for the siphoningwhichwill take place on opening the valve 20 that controls the escape ofliquid from the outlet branch.

After siphoning of the liquid has been completed from out of thereceptacle in which it is contained then any liquid that may remain inthe casing will outdrain through its vent Hi.

If any liquid escapes by the packing II, and rises within the casingbetween it and the branch 2, this liquid will escape through theopenings l3 and flow back into the receptacle.

If the reciprocation of the branch 2 is continued after the chamber ofthe siphon has been .filled with liquid, and the siphon primed, there isno danger from over priming as excess liquid will escape through thetubel6 and flow back into the liquid container.

Though the vent I5 is open at all times, this will not interfere withthe priming operation due to the small bore of this vent.

I claim:

1. A siphon assembly comprising a siphon having inlet and outletbranches and a head connecting the two branches, a valve controlling theopening and closure of the outlet branch of the siphon, a casingadaptable to be immersed in the liquid to be siphoned and within whichcasing said inlet branch of the siphon is reciprocable, said casinghaving an inlet opening to the liquid in which the casing is immersedand an outlet opening into the chamber of the siphon, a valvecontrolling said inlet opening, whereby upon the closure of said outletvalve and upon the reciprocation of the inlet branch of the siphonwithin said casing the liquid to be siphoned will be drawn into saidcasing to enter the chamber of the siphon and fill the same, priming thesiphon, when air contained therein and compressed by the entering liquidhas been expelled from the chamber of the siphon, and means whereby aircompressed within the chamber of the siphon by the entering liquid mayvent from out of the head of the siphon.

2. A siphon assembly comprising a siphon having inlet and outletbranches and a head connecting the two branches, a valve controlling theopening and closure of the outlet branch of the siphon, a casingadaptable to be immersed in the liquid to be siphoned and within whichcasing said inlet bran-ch of the siphon is reciprocable, said casinghaving an inlet opening to the liquid in which the casing is immersedand an outlet opening into the chamber of the siphon, a valvecontrolling said inlet opening, whereby upon the closure of said outletvalve and upon the reciprocation of the inlet branch of the siphonwithin said casing the liquid to be siphoned will be drawn into saidcasing to enter the chamber of the siphon and fill the same, priming thesiphon, when air contained therein and compressed by the entering liquidhas been expelled from the chamber of the siphon, and means whereby thechamber of the siphon may be sealed from atmospheric pressure, and aircompressed within the chamber of the siphon by the entering liquid bevented from out of the head of the siphon.

3. A siphon assembly comprising a siphon having inlet and outletbranches and a head connecting the two branches, a valve controlling theopening and closure of the outlet branch of the siphon, a casingadaptable to be immersed in the liquid to be siphoned and within whichcasing said inlet branch of the siphon is reciprocable, said casinghaving an inlet opening to the liquid in which the casing is immersedand an outlet opening into the chamber of the siphon, a valvecontrolling said inlet opening, whereby upon the closure of said outletvalve and upon the reciprocation of the inlet branch of the siphonwithin said casing the liquid to be siphoned will be drawn into saidcasing to enter the chamber of the siphon and fill the same, priming thesiphon, when air contained therein and compressed by the entering liquidhas been expelled from the chamber of the siphon, and means whereby aircompressed within the chamber of the siphon by the entering liquid mayvent from out of the head of the siphon into a liquid below the level ofsaid liquid.

4. A siphon assembly comprising a siphon having inlet and outletbranches and a head connecting the two branches, a valve controlling theopening and closure of the outlet branch of the siphon, a casingadaptable to be immersed in the liquid to be siphoned and within whichcasing said inlet branch of the siphon isreciprocable, said casinghaving an inlet opening to the liquid in which the casing is immersedand an outlet opening into the chamber of thesiphon, a valve controllingsaid inlet opening, whereby upon the closure of said outlet valve andupon the reciprocation of the inlet branch of the siphon within saidcasing the liquid to be siphoned may be drawn into said casing to enterthe chamber of the siphon and fill the same, priming the siphon, whenair contained therein and compressed by the entering liquid has beenexpelled from the chamber of the siphon, and means whereby aircompressed within the chamber of the siphon by the entering liquid mayvent from out of the head of the siphon into the liquid to be siphoned,with entry below the level of said liquid.

5. A siphon assembly comprising a siphon hav ing inlet and outletbranches and a head connecting the two branches, a valve controlling theopening and closure of the outlet branch of the siphon, a casingadaptable to be immersed in the liquid to be siphoned and within whichcasing said inlet branch or the siphon is reciprocable, said casinghaving an inlet opening to the liquid in which the casing is immersedand an outlet opening into the chamber of the siphon, a valvecontrolling said inlet opening, whereby upon the closure of said outletvalve and upon the reciprocation of the inlet branch of the siphonwithin said casing the liquid tobe siphoned will be drawn into saidcasing to enter the chamber of the siphon and fill the same, priming thesiphon, when air contained therein and compressed by the entering liquidhas been expelled from the chamber of the siphon, and means whereby aircompressed into the chamber of the siphon by the entering liquid mayvent through the inlet branch of the siphon and casing into the liquidto be siphoned, Within which the casing is immersed.

6. A siphon assembly comprising a siphon having inlet and outletbranches and a head connecting the two branches, a valve controlling theopening and closure of the outlet branch of the siphon, a casingadaptable to be immersed in the liquid to be siphoned and within whichcasing said inlet branch of the siphon is reciprocable, said casinghaving an inlet opening to the liquid in which the casing is immersedand an outlet opening into the chamber of the siphon, a valvecontrolling said inlet opening, whereby upon the closure of said outletvalve and upon the reciprocation of the inlet branch of the siphonwithin said casing the liquid to be siphoned will be drawn into saidcasing to enter the chamber of the siphon and fill the same, priming thesiphon, when air contained therein and compressed by the entering liquidhas been expelled from the chamber of the siphon, and a vent comprisinga pipe contained within said inlet branch and fixed to said casing withoutlet therethrough, and with top extension into the head of the siphonwhen the inlet branch is at the end of its downward stroke during itsreciprocation.

'7. A siphon assembly comprising a siphon having inlet and outletbranches and a head connecting the two branches, a valve controlling theopening and closure of the outlet branch of the siphon, a casingadaptable to be immersed in the liquid to be siphoned and within whichcasing said inlet branch of the siphon is reciprocable, said casinghaving an inlet opening to the liquid in which the casing is immersed,an outlet opening into the chamber of the siphon, and a vent passagefrom out of the chamber of the casing into the liquid in which thecasing is immersed, a valve controlling said inlet opening, whereby uponthe closure of said outlet valve and upon the reciprocation of the inletbranch of the siphon within said casing the liquid to be siphoned willbe drawn into said casing to enter the chamber of the siphon and fillthe same, priming the siphon, when air contained therein and compressedby the entering liquid has been expelled from the chamber of the siphon,and means whereby air compressed within the chamber of the siphon by theentering liquid may vent from out of the head of the siphon.

8. In a siphon assembly as in claim 1, a packing borne by the inletbranch at the lower end thereof between it and the casing, said casinghaving an opening through the side thereof below the top of the casingwhereby liquid escaping by said packing may be returned through saidopening in the casing to the liquid within which the casing is immersed.

WILLIS F. THOMPSON,

